The great Angeleyl Archis Gabriel, Valiant Knight and Holy Defender of Heavenloche, Bearer of Divine Messages, looked quite out of place in the midst of Sariel’s living room. He sat stiffly on an old yet comfortable brown couch, his jaw working, as the other Angeleyl in the room bustled over with herbal tea in delightful, elegant cups.
“Here you go.”
“I don’t drink tea,” he seethed, then immediately fixed his tone. “Might we talk now?”
“You’re such awful company, Gabriel. Try and lighten up.”
His mouth twitched. “I’m not here to keep you entertained.”
“No kidding.” They took a place up in a cozy armchair with a beige blanket and crossed their legs. “Go on, then. Get it over with.”
“The world’s ending.”
“I know. The best fertilizer in America just went off the market. It’s definitely the end times,” they said wryly.
“No, Sariel.” He leaned forward and rested his hands on his knees. “The world actually seems to be ending. Have you been outside in the last few hours?”
“I haven’t.”
“It’s like Heavenfell out there. Fires, explosions, people dying, the like. Entire cities are being swept underwater by floods. Everyone is going crazy. Robberies have spiked. Fear is rampant.” Gabriel’s shoulders slumped. “You really haven’t felt it? All of the anxiety, the anger… the screaming, the fights, the hatred… it’s… a lot. Too much. Most of the Angeleyl stationed on Earth have retreated to Heavenloche. They can’t take it.”
Suddenly, tea was the last thing on Sariel’s mind. They pursed their lips and took a shuddering breath.
“That’s why I came here,” he murmured, voice suddenly soft, “Michael—sorry, our brother—wanted me to give you a choice. All of you. All of us.”
“He’s alright, then?”
“Michael’s fine.”
“And you?”
Gabriel didn’t answer. In the dim light of the room, they could tell that he wasn’t well. Angeleyl, especially Gabriel, tended to keep themselves looking neat if they could. He looked a mess. His curly black hair stuck to his forehead with sweat, and there were dark smudges under his eyes like bruises. Both of his hands shook whenever he lifted them to rub at his lips, which were terribly chapped. They felt horrible for messing around earlier; clearly, he was barely holding himself together.
“Damnit,” their chest tightened suddenly, making it hard to speak, “you’re spreading yourself thin, aren’t you? You need to rest. Let someone else take over.”
“There are… bigger problems right now,” he pleaded, “Sariel.”
They decided not to pursue it. “This is really bad, then. Whatever’s happening.”
“Yes. That’s why I have to give you this choice. You can stay on Earth, or you can come to Heavenloche with the rest of us.”
“Why would I stay here?”
“To hunt down the thing that’s causing all of this. We know it came over from Weiside. We know vaguely where it is. We know we can track it.”
“But you don’t have anyone to track it. Nobody’s willing to.”
“Right.”
“How many others do you have to go to if I say no, Gabriel?” What they were really asking was something more like, ‘how much more would you have to hurt?’ but he would’ve puffed up if they said so, so they chose their words much more carefully.
“There are a little under ten left that I‘m required to ask.”
“And how many have you already gone to?”
“Three-“ he closed his eyes. “Three hundred and twenty before you.”
“Three hundred and twenty? Gabriel!” they yelped.
“I didn’t want to ask you first. I didn’t want… it’s too dangerous for you to stay here. You have to understand me. Please, please return home. Raphael…” his voice broke. “We sent him down here earlier. He hasn’t returned yet. I don’t know if he’s safe, Sariel. I don’t think he is. We lost contact with him. We can’t- I can’t lose anyone else. Please. I know I gave you a choice, but I had to. Pick the right option.”
“You already know my answer, Gabriel.“
He buried his eyes in the arm of his gray suit top. “I know. I know, Sariel. I know.”
They stood and rested a hand on Gabriel’s shoulder. “Go home, brother. Tell Michael and the others that I’ll find the source of the trouble. I’m going to fix this.”
His hand rose and curled around their wrist. “Please come with me. Come home. It’s been so long.”
“Gabriel.”
“Please, I-“”
“Gabriel,” they said firmly.
And then the serious Angeleyl Archis Gabriel, Valiant Knight and Holy Defender of Heavenloche, Bearer of Divine Messages did a very, very human thing and started to sob, his whole body shaking with the effort of it.
Sariel settled down next to him, wrapped an arm around his back, and silently wished that this wouldn’t be the last time they’d do so.
